Torpedo



April 22 J. A. FUNT TORPEDO I Filed Nov. 18, 1919 Patented Apr., 22, 1924.

UhliTE SEATES Ml? PTENT QFHCE.

JAMES A. FLINT, GF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF CQLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOV- ERNMENT OF UNITED STATES.

TORPEDO.

Application filed November 18, 1919. Serial No. 338,952.

T all fw/zbm it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A, FLrN'r, a citizen of the United States. residing at Vlashington7 District of Columbia, have inven'ted new and useful Improvements in Torpedoes., of Which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in torpedoes and more particularly to the pistols associated with the combustion flask.

lt is well-known to those familiar with the art that the modern automobile torpedo used in the Navy is driven by high temperature high pressure gases composed primarily of compressed air, steam and the products of combustion of the heating medium for converting the water into steam in the combustion flask. This heating medium now generally employed is sprayed alcohol which is ignited on launching the torpedo by the fiash from the mechanism technically known as the pistol. It sometimes happens that the pistol does not ignite the alcohol which results in what is known as a cold run giving the torpedo a slower speed, a shorter range and consequent inaccuracy.

lt is one of the objects of the present in vention to prevent cold runs as much as possible by providing a plurality of pistols adapted to insure the proper ignition of the alcohol spray.

A further object is to provide a simple and practical arrangement of the pistols Whereby they will be fired successively into the combustion flask to positively insure the igniton of the spray.

A further object is to provide a reliable and efficient firing mechanism which may be compactly arranged and inexpensively manufactured and assembled.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the anneXed drawings and in part indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the steps of the process and their relation to each other and in the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relations of the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof; all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of the combustion flask and pistols 'appliedv '6 into which are screwed two pistols 7 and 8. These pistols comprise a body member as indicated at 10 in Figure 3 and a trigger mechanism in a portion 11 positioned at an angle thereto.

In Figure 3 the pistol 7 is shown which is substantially the same as the pistol 8 and it will be sufiicient to describe but one of these in order to fully understand the invention.

The threaded end 12, Figure 3, is connected in any* suitable manner by coupling 13 and pipe 14 with a source of. compressed air. Within the portion 11 is a piston or plunger 15 provided with a stem 16 and coil spring 17 seated in a recess 18, The part 10 is provided with an end block 20 to permit ease of assembling while the opposite end 21 is adapted to be screwed into the head 6 of the combustion flask. .Within the part 10 there is a plunger 22 provided with a firing pin 23 adapted to engage a cap or cartridge placed in recess 24. This plunger or piston 22 is drawn back to compress a coil spring 25 and is held in firing position by means of a latch 26 eng-aging a hook or flanged end 27 of the pinl 22. The latch isv held in position by means of a spring 28 in substantial alignment with the member 16 of' the piston 15. When air is admitted through the pipe 14 the plunger 1,5 will be depressed against the action of the spring 17 allowing the end 16 to engage the part 30 of the trigger 26 thereby to release the hook end and permit the plunger I22 to move relatively towards the left to fire the cartridge.

In the side wall of the Chamber containing the piston 15 is an opening 31 communicating With a pipe 32 leading to the pistol 7. As the pistols 7 and 8 are substantially duplicates, it Will be seen that after the pistol 8 has been fired the air Will esca'pe through this passage 32 to actuate the pistol 7 Which fires immediately thereafter. This double firing of the pistols is almost certain to ignite the alcohol spray Within the coinbustion flask and accomplish the desired result thereby greatly increasing the range ot the torpedo and reducing the chances ot a cold run to a minimum.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a simple and practical arrange ment of pistols particularly adapted for use in automobile torpedoes and adapted to accomplish among others all of the objects and advantages heren set forth.

lWithout further analysis, the foregoing Will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can hy applying current knowledge readily adapt it for'various applications Without omittingfcertain features that, from the standpoint ot' the prior art. fairly consttute Vessential Characteristics ot the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and, there-fore, such adaptations should i and are intended to he comprehended Within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

memo? What .l claim 1s:-

1. ln a torpedo, in combination, a combustion flash, a pair of pistols mounted in the head thereoi, a source of compressed air connected With one pistol, and a pipe connecting said first- Inentioned pistol With the second pistol Whereby after the first pistol is fired the second pistol Will be fired.

2. ln a torpedo, in combination, a cembustion flash, a pair of pistols mounted in the head thereot, a source of compressed air connected With ene pistol, and a pipe connecting said first inentioned pistol with the second pistol Whereby efter the first pistol is tired the second pistol will be tired, by uncovering a port and allowing the air to flow into the second pistol.

3. A double pistol for torpedoes each comprising a casing member having iiring pin, a trigger, and an air actuated plung'er adapted to actuate said trigger, one of said casingmembers having a vent at one side adapted to be connected With the second pistol Whereby the air after actuat in said plunger, Will pass through said vent to actuate the second pistol.

Signed at Vilashington, District of Columhia, this 11th day of: July, 1919.

JAMES A. FLNT, 

